Astronomers have found a new super-Earth, a planet larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune. This planet orbits its star far beyond where Saturn is in our solar system.
The discovery was made by an international team, including scientists from the Center for Astrophysics, Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA). They utilized data from the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet) and a technique known as microlensing. This method works like a cosmic magnifying glass—when a distant object’s light is bent and boosted by a closer object, astronomers can spot hidden planets.
The specific event they observed, called OGLE-2016-BLG-0007, revealed that this exoplanet has a mass somewhere between Earth’s and Neptune’s. This discovery highlights how planets in other star systems can have very different arrangements compared to our solar system.
Scientists have conducted the largest study of its kind using microlensing, identifying approximately three times more planets than previous studies, some of which are significantly smaller than those previously found.
Incredibly rare new Super-Earth planet discovered
The research, led by the Center for Astrophysics, Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA), shows that super-Earths—planets larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune—are common in the distant regions of other solar systems.
The findings suggest that planetary systems in Jupiter-like orbits may differ significantly from our own, indicating that most star systems do not closely resemble the Solar System.
Scientists are investigating the number of super-Earths compared to Neptune-sized planets in other solar systems. Their research suggests that super-Earths are at least as common as Neptune-sized planets, indicating that these smaller yet still large worlds play a significant role in planetary systems across the galaxy.
Journal Reference:
- Weicheng Zang, Youn Kil Jung et al. Microlensing events indicate that super-Earth exoplanets are common in Jupiter-like orbits. Science. DOI: 10.1126/science.adn6088
